Government’s new sentencing guidelines let down victims of rape and violent sexual offences - Jayne Dowle

And now? Victims of rape and violent sexual offences, including children raped by paedophiles and young women abused by grooming gangs, are receiving letters informing them that those convicted of these most heinous crimes will be considered for early release from prison.

It looks like the new Sentencing Act 2026, which came into effect in March, will see all but murderers and terrorists exempt in a bid to overcome prison overcrowding. Under the overhaul, time served for criminals with fixed-determinate sentences can be reduced by up to 50 per cent - so half the allotted term.

This is despite previous promises to keep rapists, sexual offenders and paedophiles in prison to serve their time.

Now the news is out, startled PM-in-waiting Andy Burnham is promising to “explore” how to tighten the scheme to prevent child sex offenders from walking free.

The Conservatives, who had previously tabled an amendment to the changes when they were still at Bill stage to prevent rapists, paedophiles and other serious offenders from being awarded automatic early release, are incandescent.

They will use an opposition day debate next week - Tuesday, July 15 - to call on the government to exempt “any offender who has been convicted of any sexual offence against an adult or a child, including rape and grooming, or convicted of the attempt, conspiracy, or incitement to commit such offences”, in the House of Commons.

“It is frankly disgusting that convicted rapists, paedophiles and grooming gangs are being let out early by Labour,” says Tory leader Kemi Badenoch. “We warned the government their Sentencing Bill would do this, but they didn’t listen.”

But this is not merely a political issue, it should be a matter of personal conscience. MPs on all sides of the House should walk for a moment in the shoes of victims. Imagine you have fought a long and arduous battle to bring a crime of a violent or predatory sexual nature committed against you to court, or supported your child or relative to do so.

It is notoriously difficult. For example, only about 2.5 per cent to 3 per cent of reported rape cases in England and Wales result in a police charge that goes to court, according to official figures.

Out of roughly 70,000 rapes recorded by the police each year, fewer than 2,000 suspects make it to trial.

You went through all of that. Then imagine that official letter dropping on your mat, overturning your world. The tentative safety and security you have felt, knowing that your perpetrator is locked away for a certain number of years is totally shattered.

Every victim of an imprisoned sexual offender knows the date of eventual release; they serve their own sentence too, day by day.

But during this time, they may take gradual steps to rebuild their lives, slowly recovering from their ordeal, having found the courage to report it in the first place, endured the criminal justice system, giving evidence, possibly being cross-examined in court.

Now that surety has been blown apart in the name of reducing prison overcrowding.

Countless victims are being regarded as nothing more than collateral damage by a government that in almost two years, has done nothing to expand prison provision.

Frankly, I don’t buy any of the excuses, such as the lack of investment in building new prisons by previous Conservative governments, trotted out by ministers. There is no justification for this whatsoever, and anyone who argues in favour needs to meet with victims, forthwith.

I heard former barrister and MP for Rother Valley Jake Richards, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Sentencing, on the radio earlier this week.

When questioned about the early release of sex offenders, Richards argued essentially for a ‘one-in/one-out’ system. His justification, that without freeing up prison places there is nowhere for those awaiting trial to go should they be found guilty, showed no understanding of the position of victims.

What message does this sentencing volte face send to those who do commit such crimes?